After leaving Penzance on the 08.39 to Exeter it was revealed that the train had been Cancelled on realtime trains, however after making contact with our good friend Martin Duff it was revealed that the tour was starting from Basingstoke owing to the late running of the stock from Eastleigh.Leaving Basingstoke some 18 mins late it lost time by Salisbury then leaving 30 late, however with a booked stop for passing at Honiton the train regained time arriving a Exeter St David's 18 mins late. After seeing the arrival at Exeter, Roger Salter and Tony Brokenshire headed for Dawish and myself carried on to Paignton. At Paignton the crowd in anticipation were getting worked up! where was the train! By that time the Dawlish photographers were on the train behind the special but were held up at Newton Abbot West the site of the famous bridge which was demolished for the new bypass. After sometime held at the signal, the passengers aboard the train were advised that the railtour in front had broken down and that they were returning to Newton Abbot Station. It was eventually discovered that the Railtour had broken down at Torre. The train eventually ran into Paignton Station with fire bells ringing 81 mins after leaving Exeter. The Dawlish photographers returned home after a number of cancellations to services.

160716aa 73962 and 73963 Arrives at Exeter St David's with the 09.17 Basingstoke to Paignton Railtour known as the 'Herd of Wildebeestie' Copyright Roger Winnen

160716i 73128 OVS Bullied and 73107 Tracy heads the tour through Dawlish Station on route to Paignton. Copyright Roger Salter

160716d The Herd of Wildebeestie passing the Lidle Store on the approach to Paignton Station 80mins after leaving Exeter St David's with the fire bells ringing in the leading engine. Copyright Roger Winnen

160716q 73962 and 73963 pass Dawlish Warren with the return leg of the special railtour to London Waterloo. Copyright Jamie Dyke

More Photographs to be seen on the features page

Craig's backCornwall and Devon

Hi Keith, After a long recess, some railway pictures at last!

I popped up to Dawlish today (along with many railway photographer royalty)! to capture 1Z73 Waterloo to Paignton, which started at Basingstoke. The locos were GBRF class 73s 73128/107 73962/963. The train is pictured passing Dawlish Marine.

In the Duchy - the sun shone all day we hear! The evening was magnificent, which allowed a picture of 2C51 heading west (the first this season)! The shadows almost had me West of Probus for 57603 working the loco hauled, but the village of Probus was brightly lit above. Please note: this was taken in a private paddock with farmer's permission.

Heading for Penzance is 57603 Tintagel Castle with the 2c51 16th July 2016 Copyright Craig Munday Probus Church and village forms a sunlit backdrop. Picture taken with the permission of the farmer.

Thorney and Kingsbury Halt​John Cornelius

82044 gets away from Thorney and Kingsbury Halt on the 20th May 1964. Copyright John Cornelius The location is to the south of the station looking towards Yeovil.

Operation of the Milk Factory and siding. A note from John Cornelius.There were two ground frames at Thorney to give access to the loop serving the milk factorysiding, the one nearest the road overbridge and halt was named 'Thorney North', and the one at the distant end named 'Thorney South'. As far as I know the milk was sent in churns insiphon'G' vans, I don't think milk tanks were ever used there. The daily milk train came down from Yeovil and returned there. If the loco needed water it would run light engine toLangport West to fill up. I remember seeing siphon'G's stabled in the head shunt and also stabled in Martock goods yard. Because of the milk traffic, the weekly financial income credited to Thorney,was greater than that at Martock, so I was told.Out on cycle ride with friends on a Sunday in 1956 we happened to get to Thorneyjust as the milk train arrived from Yeovil,headed by 4507, the only time I saw the train.When I worked on the modernisation of the milk factory in 1962, rail traffic had ceased by then,with milk going by road. I think possibly the last vehicle to be shunted into the milk factory platform,was a box van with equipment for the modernisation in Feb or March 1962,which was shunted in, off the Yeovil goods train by 5798. Then a week or so later the empty van was taken away on the Yeovil goods. Many thanks for the info john - it's all valuable history.

Newton Abbot, CastleMike Morant

5049 Earl of Plymouth, built in April 1936 as Denbigh Castle renamed in August 1937. It is seen here on a down service running into Newton Abbot in August 1958. Courtesy Mike Morant Collection. 160709_W_BR_5049_Newton_Abbot_8-58